Month: August 2024

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said that the party is receiving a lot of love during the ‘padyatra’ and hoped that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will return from the jail soon.

“We are receiving a lot of love during the padyatra. We are hopeful that CM Arvind Kejriwal will also return soon. As soon as he returns all the pending works of the people will be done soon,” Sisodia told ANI.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

Last week, Manish Sisodia began his ‘padyatra’, reconnecting with the masses after 17 months of imprisonment.

In February 2023, Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of now-scrapped Delhi’s new excise policy.

The policy was withdrawn amid allegations of foul play by the opposition.

According to the CBI, Sisodia had played the most vital role in the criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the said policy.

Assembly polls in Delhi are expected to be held in early 2025. Congress could not win a single seat in the Delhi assembly polls held in 2020. While the AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats, the BJP secured eighth seats in the last assembly polls. (ANI)

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Taapsee Pannu, who believes in strongly presenting her opinions, said that actors sometimes refrain from expressing their political views as it may create problems for them.

In an exclusive conversation with ANI, she said, “We have our own politics of sorts. It doesn’t always have to be related to a particular type of politics. People want to stay quiet because they feel that way or this way there will be a problem.”

Taapsee has openly spoken about nepotism and other issues. The ace actor said that people have created a perception about stars.

“Actors are believed to have low IQ and people think that they hardly know anything especially if it is a woman then they think, ‘how dare you have an opinion’. But anyway, it is a double-edged sword, I feel. If you have an opinion, then also it’s a problem. You don’t have an opinion, then also it is a problem.”

The ‘Baby’ star, who has played sports personalities several times on-screen, also shared her opinion on the gender eligibility controversy involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Taapsee talked about the issue and how her critically acclaimed film ‘Rashmi Rocket’ also deals with the subject of gender testing in sports. In the film, Taapsee was seen essaying the role of a professional runner.

“I played a role on that subject. I did a film called ‘Rashmi Rocket’ which was about a female athlete being banned because she was detected with a high level of testosterone. So, I played this role. I mean we presented our views and that’s why you know I think the beauty of the kind of films I get is sometimes I get my films to talk about the muddas (issues) that I personally believe in without making a statement outside.”

Set in Kutch, ‘Rashmi Rocket’ is about a young girl from a small village who wins accolades for the country as a professional runner. However, her life takes a turn when she’s called in for a gender verification test.

Directed by Akarsh Khurana, the film also stars Supriya Pathak and Abhishek Banerjee.

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya, ‘Rashmi Rocket’ has been written by Nanda Periyasamy, Aniruddha Guha and Kanika Dhillon.

She said her role in ‘Rashmi Rocket’ touched on this issue and questioned the disqualification criteria on the basis of a higher level of testosterone. “That was a film that I spoke about where I played the athlete. And it is not in my control what my hormones are. It’s not like I’ve taken supplements. It’s not like I’ve injected any hormones. It’s just I was born with it. Our argument in the film was that there are so many athletes who are born with an edge over others. Like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, all these people are also born with a certain biological edge over others. Why are they not banned? And why only someone who has a higher level of testosterone is banned?”

Taapsee continued, “If she has taken injections for this particular competition, then, of course, it should be illegal and she should be banned. But if she is not, then by something that is not in her control, you’ve banned her. So that’s the character that I played in the film as well. So that was my statement.”

Taapsee is known for her powerful performances in movies such as ‘Pink’, ‘Thappad’, ‘Rashmi Rocket’, ‘Shabaash Mithu’, among others. Although she made her Bollywood debut with ‘Chashme Baddoor’ in 2013, she gained a lot of prominence with her movies such as ‘Baby’ and ‘Pink’. (ANI)

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Deepika Padukone, who is glowing with joy as she awaits the arrival of her first child, has once again won the hearts of her fans as she joined the viral 1-second reel trend.

Taking to her Instagram account on Tuesday, the mom-to-be made fans go gaga as she shared the video where she can be seen getting ready for an event, wearing a beautiful golden saree.

She joined the popular one-second reel trend, winking and flashing a big smile at the camera. Her pregnancy glow were hard to miss, leaving fans in awe.

“Jumping on the 1 Second Reel Bandwagon!” she wrote in the caption followed by a squinting face with tongue emoji.

Soon after the actress dropped the video, fans chimed in the comment section.

“Ohh atleast you posted something Miss you @deepikapadukone,” wrote one fan.

“You beauty,” commented another fan.

“Why does this video never ends?” penned a third fan.

Deepika and Ranveer announced their pregnancy in March this year and shared that they are expecting the birth of their baby in September.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Deepika will be next seen in ‘Singham Again.’

Helmed by Rohit Shetty ‘Singham Again’ also stars Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles. ‘Singham Again’ is the third instalment of the super-hit franchise.

‘Singham’ was released in 2011, starring Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj in lead roles, followed by ‘Singham Returns’ in 2014. Both projects were seen as box office hits.

The movie is set to hit the big screens on the festive occasion of Diwali 2024. (ANI)

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Actor Riteish Deshmukh has expressed his shock and anger over the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Maharashtra’s Badlapur.

The Badlapur incident has come just days after the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor that took place at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

Riteish took to his X account on Tuesday and expressed his pain and frustration.

He also demanded the “harshest punishment” for the guilty in the case.

In his post, the actor, who is also a parent, wrote, “As a parent am absolutely disgusted, pained and raging with anger!! Two 4 year old girls were sexually assaulted by the male cleaning staff member of the school. Schools are supposed to be as safe a place for kids as their own homes. Harshest punishment needs to be given to this demon. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his times gave the guilty what they deserved – Chaurang- we need these laws back in action. #BadlapurCrime.”

The alleged sexual assault of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, has sparked widespread outrage.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the case and that those found guilty would face strict action.

“I have taken serious cognizance of the incident in Badlapur. An SIT has already been formed in this matter and we are also going to take action against the school where the incident took place. We are in the process of fast-track this case, and no one will be spared if found guilty,” CM Eknath Shinde told ANI.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered the formation of an SIT headed by Inspector General of Police-level senior IPS officer Arti Singh to investigate the incident.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also spoke on the issue and said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was about to pass the ‘Shakti Bill’ but his government was ‘toppled’ by the current chief minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde.

Earlier in the day, a massive protest was held at Badlapur Railway Station against the alleged sexual assault incident involving two minor girls at a school in Thane district.

Protestors blocked tracks, causing a halt in local trains while protesting against the alleged sexual assault. Incidents of stone pelting were also reported. Following this, police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the protestors. (ANI)

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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are reportedly set to part ways once again.

Lopez, 55, filed for divorce from Affleck, 52, after a marriage that lasted just over two years. The news was first reported by TMZ and subsequently confirmed by multiple sources to People magazine.

Lopez reportedly filed the divorce papers herself in Los Angeles County Superior Court on August 20 listing April 26, 2024, as the date of separation, Variety reported.

The singer has chosen to represent herself in the legal proceedings. The couple’s marriage began with a surprise wedding in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, followed by a larger ceremony in Georgia on August 20, 2022, marking the second anniversary of their traditional wedding celebration.

According to People magazine, there is no prenuptial agreement between the two.

“She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken. The kids are a top priority, as they always have been,” according to People magazine.

Lopez and Affleck reignited their relationship in 2021, nearly 17 years after their initial engagement was called off in 2003.

Fondly referred to as Bennifer by their fans, the couple officially ended their first engagement in January 2004 but maintained a friendly relationship over the years.

The couple went public with their renewed romance in April 2021, following Lopez’s split from former MLB star Alex Rodriguez.

They made their relationship official on social media in July 2021 and were seen together at the Venice Film Festival that same year.

Lopez and Affleck announced their engagement in April 2022, culminating in their surprise Las Vegas wedding.

They celebrated with a grander ceremony in Georgia, attended by celebrities such as Matt Damon, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes.

The ceremony was officiated by podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty, according to People magazine.

Lopez shares twins Max and Emme, 16, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children–Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15, and Samuel, 12 with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

The couple’s recent collaboration on Lopez’s Prime Video musical documentary, ‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’, which accompanied her album release in February, was one of their final joint projects.

Rumours of marital strife began circulating in May when they spent significant time apart.

Lopez was occupied with her movie promotion and upcoming tour, while Affleck remained in Los Angeles to film ‘The Accountant 2’.

Their relationship appeared strained as they spent much of the summer on opposite coasts, with Lopez reportedly staying in the Hamptons and Affleck in Los Angeles.

In June, they listed their Beverly Hills mansion for sale, and Affleck subsequently purchased a new USD 20 million home in July.

According to People magazine, Lopez and Affleck were no longer residing together, with Lopez reportedly not seeing Affleck for several weeks leading up to the filing. (ANI)

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B-town couple actors Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif were the picture of happiness as they were spotted leaving filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s Mumbai residence late on Tuesday night.

The duo, who tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in December 2021, appeared to be in high spirits as they exited the home, accompanied by Katrina’s sister, Isabelle Kaif.

In the videos and photos captured by ANI, Vicky, dressed casually in a white T-shirt paired with black pants and shoes, was seen descending the stairs with a beaming smile, acknowledging the paparazzi with friendly waves.

Isabelle, who matched her sister’s style in a black top and jeans, followed closely behind.

Katrina, opting for a more relaxed look in a black sweatshirt and jeans, sported a natural, no-makeup appearance as she was spotted exiting Zoya’s house with her radiant smile.

She was seen reaching the car last, where Vicky stood by to assist her inside. As the couple departed, Katrina waved cheerfully from the car.

This cheerful outing comes amid the buzz surrounding Vicky’s upcoming film, ‘Chhaava’.

The historical drama, directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, features Vicky as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

The teaser for the film, released on Monday, has been met with considerable enthusiasm, with Katrina herself praising it on Instagram with the caption, “And its hereeeee raw, brutal and glorious.”

‘Chhaava’ is set to release on December 6, 2024.

Vicky’s latest film, ‘Bad Newz’, hit theatres on July 19, while Katrina was last seen in ‘Merry Christmas’ opposite Vijay Sethupathi.

She is also set to star in Farhan Akhtar’s much-anticipated film ‘Jee Le Zara’ alongside Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra. (ANI)

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Mom-to-be Deepika Padukone was spotted enjoying a warm and joyful evening in Mumbai, as she dined with her husband Ranveer Singh’s family and Indian Olympian badminton player Lakshya Sen.

The Tuesday evening was made even more special when Deepika was seen sharing a heartfelt hug with Lakshya Sen outside the restaurant where they had their meal.

Deepika, who is due to welcome her first child in September, looked radiant in a black bodycon dress, paired with an oversized black blazer. Her long wavy hair cascaded freely, and she accessorized with a black handbag, epitomizing effortless elegance.

During the outing, Lakshya Sen was also seen with Ranveer’s sister having a warm conversation.

Lakshya Sen recently made headlines for his remarkable performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he reached the semi-finals but ultimately fell to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in the bronze medal match.

His journey at the Olympics was closely followed, and his interaction with Deepika showcased a blend of personal and professional camaraderie.

Deepika’s father, Prakash Padukone, a former prominent Indian badminton player, was a key mentor for the Indian badminton contingent at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Deepika will be next seen in ‘Singham Again,’ set to hit the big screens on the festive occasion of Diwali 2024.

Helmed by Rohit Shetty ‘Singham Again’ also stars Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles.

‘Singham Again’ is the third instalment of the super-hit franchise.

‘Singham’ was released in 2011, starring Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj in lead roles, followed by ‘Singham Returns’ in 2014. Both projects were box office hits. (ANI)

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Amid the ongoing protests over the alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls by a school attendant in Maharashtra’s Badlapur, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24.

In a meeting that was called for the discussion on seat sharing for the upcoming assembly elections on Wednesday, the MVA decided to call for a strike over the incident.

Speaking on the matter, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “We had come here to discuss seat sharing but then we thought that we would not discuss seat sharing and instead discuss the law and order in the state after the Badlapur incident. The people of Maharashtra are agitated and FIRs have been registered against those who protested. We have decided that on August 24, MVA will call for Maharashtra Bandh over the Badlapur incident.”

NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad said, “Yesterday, FIRs have been filed against 300 people protesting against the Badlapur incident… This is an unconstitutional government… The culprits are increasing and against this Maharashtra Bandh is important.”

Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat also spoke on the matter and said, “We had a meeting today and on August 24 in which we called for Bandh. The Badlapur incident is serious.”

This incident has created massive outrage among the people in Badlapur. On August 17, police arrested an attendant for allegedly abusing the girls.

Earlier, a massive protest was held at Badlapur Railway Station in response to the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls.

Protesters also pelted stones at police during the protest. Heavy security has been deployed to control the crowd protesting against the incident.

Maharashtra Police has arrested more than 40 people and registered an FIR against 300 people following the massive protest over the incident that led to stone-pelting, disruption of train services and lathi charges on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered a high-level probe into the incident and said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the case. (ANI)

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The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court and filed an urgent application for intervention and directions regarding the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

According to the FAIMA press release, the association appreciated the Chief Justice of India for his kind consideration of the working environment of resident doctors and his assurance that the Supreme Court is looking into improving our working conditions and security.

This tragic incident has led to nationwide protests and raised serious concerns about the safety of healthcare workers across the country.

FAIMA’s petition highlighted the dire need for enhanced security and better working conditions for doctors, especially women, who face constant threats in their line of duty.

“The key interventions and directions requested by FAIMA included, the immediate Security Measures: Installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive hospital areas and ensuring compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, including a 24×7 distress call facility,” the release stated.

It further mentioned national task force inclusion in which representation of resident doctors in the National Task Force to address real-time safety issues and formulate comprehensive guidelines.

“Interim Measures: Implementation of urgent measures such as equal bed-to-doctor ratios and secure resting areas until the National Task Force’s recommendations are fully enacted. Timeline for Implementation: FAIMA seeks a stipulated timeline for the enforcement of the National Task Force’s recommendations, ensuring that doctors can work in a safe and dignified environment,” it added.

The FAIMA said that these directions are crucial for safeguarding the lives and dignity of medical professionals, who continue to work under perilous conditions.

“FAIMA remains hopeful that the Supreme Court’s intervention will lead to swift and effective action, bringing much-needed security to the healthcare sector,” it added.

The alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical and Hospital in Kolkata has garnered a wave of outrage from doctors and the general public across the country.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday constituted a 10-member National Task Force to make recommendations on the prevention of violence and safe working conditions for medical professionals. The task force includes Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, among others.

The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. (ANI)

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Noel Tata, Chairman of the CII Africa Committee and Chairman of TATA International Ltd. emphasized the growing need for innovative financial strategies to overcome challenges in India-Africa trade at the 19th edition of the CII India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi.

He particularly highlighted the concept of Rupee trade as a potential solution, stating, “To address these challenges, we are exploring the concept of Rupee trade.”

Tata underlined the importance of building mutual trust between financial institutions in India and Africa, stressing that this would pave the way for broader private-sector participation.

“Our goal is to build mutual trust between our (India and Africa) financial institutions and expand private sector participation, thereby facilitating the implementation of innovative financial solutions,” he added.

Tata further articulated India’s long-term vision of strengthening its economic partnerships within multilateral frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He pointed out that maintaining and enhancing these partnerships would help solidify India’s role as a “Biswabandu” or “Friend of the World,” a position India aspires to uphold on the global stage.

“Our goal is to maintain and enhance our partnerships with multilateral frameworks such as the African continental free trade areas. Our aim is to solidify India’s position as a Biswabandu of the world,” Tata remarked.

Sanjiv Puri, President CII and Chairman ITC in his address, focused on the agricultural sector, which has emerged as a promising area for India-Africa collaboration.

Puri highlighted joint ventures in agro-processing and seed technology transfer as critical avenues for enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security across Africa.

“Joint ventures in agro-processing and seed technology transfer and also agri transformation from digital offer promising avenues for collaboration, adding to agriculture productivity and enabling food security,” Puri stated.

Puri also reaffirmed the Indian industry’s commitment to align with the Indian government’s approach of providing “appropriate, affordable, and adaptable solutions” tailored to Africa’s specific needs. He emphasized the immense potential of Africa’s rich resources in promoting sustainable solutions globally, with India ready to partner in this endeavour.

“The Indian industry is committed to aligning with the Indian government’s mantra of appropriate, affordable and adaptable solutions in line with Africa’s needs,” Puri noted.

He added, “Africa’s rich resources hold immense promise for supporting the development and promotion of sustainable solutions across the world, and India is keen to partner in this endeavour.”

Furthermore, Puri pointed out that the African Continental Free Trade Area presents new opportunities for Indian industries. He encouraged Indian businesses to explore these possibilities by developing regional production networks and actively participating in African industrial commerce.

“The African continental free trade area opens up many new possibilities for Indian industry in developing regional production networks and participating in African industrial commerce,” Puri concluded. (ANI)

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